Portland Trail Blazers' Craig Smith (83) and Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) vie for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012.

Portland Trail Blazers' Craig Smith (83) and Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) vie for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012.

Photo: Tony Avelar, Associated Press

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Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson drives for the basket past Houston Rockets' Kevin Martin during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors beat the Rockets 106-97. less

Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson drives for the basket past Houston Rockets' Kevin Martin during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors beat the ... more

Photo: George Nikitin, Associated Press

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Warriors' Klay Thompson growing into a top shooter

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OKLAHOMA CITY --

If one All-Star weekend snub turned Klay Thompson into what we've seen the past four games, just imagine what might be in store following a couple more cold shoulders.

Last week, Thompson was left out of the original 18-player pool for the Rising Stars Challenge between rookies and sophomores. On Wednesday, the league's fourth-best three-point shooter was deemed unworthy of a spot in the Three-Point Shootout, and on Thursday, Jeremy Lin and Norris Cole were added to the Rising Stars Challenge.

"I wanted to be in that rookie game, and I thought I had played well enough to get there," Thompson said Thursday as his team prepared to play Oklahoma City today. "That's alright. It's just another chip on my shoulder. I'm coming into the gym, getting up shots, working on my game and trying to prove people wrong."

In the four games since the initial rebuff, Thompson has averaged 12.5 points, 54.3 percent shooting, 55.6 percent from three-point range, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals and less than one turnover a game - all better than what he had been averaging.

"The similarities are obvious, especially with Ray and Reggie being knockdown shooters with great range," Jackson said. "That's very doable for Klay, and that's great company."

Jackson also said Thompson can forget the Rising Stars game, because he'll be in the Big Show one day and said the first-year player has a chance to become one of the league's elite shooting guards.

"If I didn't think he was capable of it, I'd be worried about adding the pressure, but I'm not concerned," Jackson said. "He's a heck of a player already, and he forces me to play him more and more every time he's out there. Everything about him says 'winning.'

"My eyes are on him at all times, and he has not disappointed."

Thompson said he knew he had gained his coach's trust following a conversation after he missed eight consecutive three-point attempts.

"Coach said he would never take me out for missing shots and being aggressive," Thompson said. "As long as I keep playing defense, I'll stay on the floor. That gives me a lot of confidence that I can just go out there and play my game without being hesitant. I just need to play intelligently and play within the offense."

The way Thompson handled his rocky preseason actually helped him in the team's eyes. No one doubted that he would eventually regain his gifted shooting stroke, but during the rough start he showcased an all-around game that no one could have predicted.

Thompson, who is 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, moves freely without the ball, consistently running off screens to get open looks. He looks very comfortable with the ball and is creative. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time on defense.

"Sometimes you take the conservative route, and you protect yourself and don't say anything too much, but I'm going to tell you that he's on track to become a really good player," general manager Larry Riley said. "The sky is the limit."

In fact, Jackson said a solid, 12-year career would be a disappointment for Thompson.

"That would be a heck of a career, but he's better than that. He's going to be better than that," Jackson said. "He does some things as well as any young player I've seen."

Namely shooting. Thompson had a stretch this month when he made 14 of 18 three-pointers.

Apparently, his percentage in practice is even better.

"When we have shooting drills, he'll make 18 straight. I've played with guys who can't make 18 straight layups," said Jackson, who took an informal poll of his players this week to see who they considered the team's best shooter. Stephen Curry, Thompson, and the league's top three-point shooter, Brandon Rush, split the vote, and Nate Robinson voted for himself.

"We've got to have a shooting contest one day to determine it," Thompson said. "One day, we've just got to make a decision and stay here until one of us beats everybody else. I feel like I could be the best shooter. I think I can hang with those guys."

The fact that Curry didn't win the poll in a landslide speaks volumes about what Thompson and Rush have brought to the Warriors. The fact that Thompson wants to answer the question on the court speaks to his competitive spirit.

"That's who he is," Jackson said. "The guy is not afraid. He takes tremendous pride, not just in his shooting, but in his entire game. I love his edge. I realized from Day 1 of watching him that he walks around like he's the baddest dude in the gym.

"He's a silent assassin."

Looking to take down some doubters.

Season stats

Klay Thompson's per-game averages:

Minutes17.0

Points7.6

Rebounds1.6

Assists1.3

FG percentage46.7

3FG percentage48.1

Warriors tonight

Who: Warriors (11-15) vs. Thunder (22-7)

Where: Oklahoma City

When: 5 p.m.

TV/Radio: CSNBA/1050

Of note: Five of the past six games between the Warriors and the Thunder have been decided by six points or less. ... Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has averaged 23.6 points on 57.5 percent shooting in nine games against Oklahoma City - his best numbers against any Western Conference opponent. ... The Thunder have a seven-game home winning streak and the league's best overall record. ... Oklahoma City lost at Houston on Wednesday, but the Thunder have won 25 of their past 32 games coming off a loss.

- Rusty Simmons

High-percentage draft pick

Warriors swingman Klay Thompson has had an efficient season, scoring 21.6 points per 48 minutes played and ranking among the top four rookies in both field-goal and three-point percentage. Here's a look at how he stacks up against the 10 first-year players chosen ahead of him for All-Star weekend's Rising Stars game:

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